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Bondi Junction shooting: Sydney drug kingpin Alen Moradian dead after shots fired into car Bondi Junction shooting: Sydney drug kingpin Alen Moradian dead after shots fired into car
(about 1 hour later)
Police believe a burnt-out Porsche found at the same time is linked to the Spring Street attackPolice believe a burnt-out Porsche found at the same time is linked to the Spring Street attack
A major player in Australia’s cocaine trade has died and three crime scenes are active after shots were fired into a car in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Tuesday morning. A key figure in Australia’s cocaine trade has been shot dead in his car in an underground car park in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, with police treating the killing as an organised crime hit.
Emergency services were called to Bondi Junction’s Spring Street about 8.30am after reports that a man sitting in a stationary car in a car park had been shot, police said. New South Wales police said on Tuesday they believed two shooters were involved in the murder of Alen Moradian but the investigation was still in its infancy.
The man, believed to be in his late 40s, died at the scene, the statement said. “The shooting this morning bears the hallmarks of an organised crime murder,” Det Supt Danny Doherty said. “He obviously had a big target on his back.”
Emergency services were called to Bondi Junction’s Spring Street about 8.30am following reports that a man sitting in a stationary car had been shot, police said.
Moradian, who has not yet been formally identified, was in his late 40s and died at the scene.
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Police have not released his identity but Guardian Australia has confirmed that the victim is Alen Moradian.
Once dubbed the “Tony Soprano” of the Australian cocaine importation trade, he was sentenced to at least six years in prison in 2011 for importing and selling a large quantity of the drug.Once dubbed the “Tony Soprano” of the Australian cocaine importation trade, he was sentenced to at least six years in prison in 2011 for importing and selling a large quantity of the drug.
Police believe a burnt-out Porsche found on James Street, Bondi Junction, about the same time is linked to the shooting. Detectives are also investigating a second burnt-out car – a Holden Commodore found on Cook Lane in Zetland – as a line of inquiry. Police are appealing for people who may have witnessed anything suspicious in the lead up to the shooting on Tuesday morning or afterwards. They will examine CCTV footage from the surrounding area.
Three crime scenes have been established, which will be examined by specialist police. Officers from the eastern suburbs police area command and detectives from the state crime command’s homicide squad have launched an investigation. Detectives also examined a burnt-out Porsche found on James Street in Bondi Junction and a second burnt-out car – a Holden Commodore – found on Cook Lane in Zetland.
A spokesperson for New South Wales Ambulance confirmed it had multiple vehicles on the scene. A single person had been involved and nobody had been taken to hospital. Three crime scenes have been established, which will be examined by specialist police.
The operation was centred on Spring Street, Bondi Junction, NSW police said just after 9am. “Road closures are in place and motorists are urged to avoid the area.” A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance confirmed it had multiple vehicles on the scene. A single person had been involved and nobody had been taken to hospital, they said.
Waverley council confirmed that parts of Bondi Junction between Spring and Denison streets would be closed to all traffic, pedestrians and cyclists for the next few hours. Waverley council earlier confirmed that parts of Bondi Junction between Spring and Denison streets would be closed to all traffic, pedestrians and cyclists for a number of hours.
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“Please avoid the area,” it posted on social media.“Please avoid the area,” it posted on social media.
🚫 IMPORTANT UPDATE 🚫 A police operation is taking place between Spring St (cnr Newland St) and Denison St in Bondi Junction.This part of Bondi Junction is closed to all traffic, pedestrians and cyclists for the next few hours. Please avoid the area.🚫 IMPORTANT UPDATE 🚫 A police operation is taking place between Spring St (cnr Newland St) and Denison St in Bondi Junction.This part of Bondi Junction is closed to all traffic, pedestrians and cyclists for the next few hours. Please avoid the area.
A worker at Lumiza Cafe on Spring Street confirmed that the street had been shut off to traffic. “I didn’t hear anything, I was serving customers,” she said, adding: “Police are still outside now.” A worker at Lumiza Cafe on Spring Street said the street had been shut off to traffic. “I didn’t hear anything, I was serving customers,” she said, adding: “Police are still outside now.”
Police said nobody had been arrested so far in relation to the shooting. Police said nobody had been arrested in relation to the shooting.